Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"The Keti resort is laid out, there's around 25 or 30 cabins out here, and they're all built pretty close to each other. Like, for example, the Sharp's house is literally only like 15 feet away from the cabin next door." — Britt
"The way the Keti resort is laid out, there's around 25 or 30 cabins out here, and they're all built pretty close to each other. Like, for example, the Sharp's house is literally only like 15 feet away from the cabin next door." — Britt
"Police aren't just looking for anything to suggest he's the killer, but they're also looking for anything to indicate he might know where Tina is." — Ashley Flowers
The episode delves into the brutal 1981 murders of Glenna Susan "Sue" Sharp, her son John, and his friend Dana Wingate at their Keti, California cabin, and the simultaneous disappearance of Sue's youngest daughter, Tina. The crime scene was one of immense violence, with victims found tied and with signs of a struggle. The initial investigation was hampered by the limited resources of the Plumas County Sheriff's Department, leading them to call in the FBI and State Department of Justice. Notably, Sue's ex-husband, Jim, was investigated but cleared due to an alibi. The episode highlights critical investigative oversights, such as the failure to properly secure the crime scene and the overlooking of key evidence like a 911 call and a confession letter.
The disappearance of Tina Sharp was a central mystery, with theories ranging from her being a witness to her being the primary target, potentially due to her father's alleged abuse. The investigation took a significant turn with the discovery of human remains in 1984, later identified as Tina's, though her cause of death and the exact timeline of her demise remain uncertain. The case continued to be plagued by missed opportunities, including overlooked confessions from Marty Smart, Tina's stepfather, and his associate, Bo.
In 2013, a special investigator revisited the case, uncovering significant procedural errors and previously unexamined evidence, including a crucial 911 call and Marty Smart's letter confessing to a role in the murders. While the investigation has identified a living suspect through DNA found on tape from the crime scene, the identities of the perpetrators and the full motive behind the murders and Tina's abduction remain officially unsolved, leaving the surviving siblings without closure after decades.